Soumillon the Perfect jockey for Juddmonte

ACE Belgian jockey Christophe Soumillon has retained the ride on his Prix Morny winner Perfect Partner as the colt, trained by Richard Fahey, attempts to advance his claims to be Europe’s top two-year-old in Saturday’s Group One Juddmonte Middle Park Stakes at Newmarket. The winner of the Norfolk Stakes at Royal Ascot was unlucky in running when fifth in the Richmond Stakes at Glorious Goodwood and again had to overcome an interrupted run when finishing strongly under Soumillon to win the Morny by a length and a quarter from Trident at Deauville. The only two-year-old trained in Europe who is currently rated higher than Perfect Power is Charlie Appleby’s Native Trail, decisive winner of the National Stakes at the Curragh. Fahey (below) reckons Perfect Power is his best two-year-old since Wootton Bassett, who landed the Prix Jean Luc Lagardere at the 2010 Arc meeting. Victory on Saturday for Perfect Power could be a prelude to a return to Newmarket next May for the 2,000 Guineas. Fahey said: ‘Perfect Power’s owner (Sheik Rashid Dalmook Al Maktoum) was very keen to keep the partnership with Christophe together. ‘Perfect Power had to show a bit of class in the Morny. The best part of his race was the end of it which is always a good sign. ‘We are still learning about him but, on the dam’s side, he is bred to stay. His mental awareness and attitude also lend him to come home in his races. ‘Hopefully he will be a dual Group One winner (after Saturday) and the 2,000 Guineas is the route you nearly have to go if you have a chance. ‘The better sprint races like the Sandy Lane Stakes and Commonwealth Cup is the route to go if that fails. There is nothing to lose having a go at the Guineas.’